Markarian’s Chain in Virgo/Com
Across the heart of the Virgo Cluster of Galaxies lies a striking string of galaxies known as Markarian’s Chain. Most prominent members in this image are M84, M86, M88, M89, M90, M91, NGC 4477, NGC 4473, NGC 4461, NGC 4458, NGC 4438 and NGC 4435. The centerpoint of the cluster is represented by M87, the huge ellipical galaxy.
More than 2’500 galaxies reside in the Virgo Cluster of Galaxies. The names of the brightest objects can be found in this annotated image.
This image represents about 3.5deg x 3.5deg of the night sky. North is up in this image.
Details
Telescope:
Takahashi FSQ-106EDX III
Mount:
ASA DDM85
Camera:
Andor CG16M
Filters:
Astrodon Gen2
Exposure:
LRGB 420:160:160:150 min.
Location:
ROSA Remote Observatories Southern Alps
Author:
© Martin Rusterholz, Astrophotographer
Hello, my name is Martin Rusterholz. I’m a Swiss amateur astrophotographer living near Zurich, the biggest town in Switzerland. My interest in astronomy started when I was 16. At that time, I built my first Newtonian telescope and mount. I studied physics at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) which was the only study including at least some aspects of astronomy and astrophysics.
“Looking at the nights sky is an experience touching everybody deeply inside, something common to all human beings independent to the language spoken by the individuals”.
Deep-sky astrophotography is my passion. 
